HHS acts on violations of conscience protection in California, Vermont
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, is pictured Jan. 17, 2019. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
By Catholic News Service • Posted December 18, 2020
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Two U.S. bishops’ committees said Dec. 17 they “strongly commend” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for taking “corrective action” against a Vermont medical center and the state of California for violating federal conscience protection laws when it comes to abortion.
In the first case, HHS’s Office for Civil Rights said Dec. 16 it has referred the University of Vermont Medical Center to the Department of Justice for a lawsuit over forcing a nurse to assist in an abortion procedure in violation of the nurse’s conscience rights.